Indexed packaging and stacking devices

ABSTRACT

My invention teaches the use of self spiraling bands preferably of transparent materials adapted to be flexible and used as binding means around a stack of materials. The bands are secured to a base plate and arranged to have movable identification tags attached to the bands which have spaced perforations throughout their length and provide means for securing the bands each to the other. These tags are positioned in specific places along the bands to identify the stop or start of different items at different heights within a stack. The aforesaid base plate has removable casters readily attachable to it when it is desired to carry stacks of materials in greater quantities that cannot be carried about by hand. In addition my stacking device is used as a display rack for items, books or pamphlets and a sample is supported in open or closed condition for easy examination of an item, book or pamphlet contained in the stack, and other contents of the stack may be removed from the stack while an item, book or pamphlet is on display.

United States Patent 1191 Bestehorn 1 Jan. 23, 1973 [76] Inventor: Ute W. Bestehorn, 3330 Morrison Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45220 [22] Filed: May 15, 1970 211 Appl. No.: 37,786

[52] US. Cl ..206/65 R, 206/65 B, 211/49 R [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d 71/00 [58] Field of Search.150/52 R; 206/60 A, 60, R, 65 R, 206/65 B; 229/87 R, 87 B; 211/49 R, 51, 49

S; 224/45 N, 45 R 2,852,143 9/1958 Taber T ..21l/49 S 3,166,195 1/1965 Taber ..21l/49 S 3,182,806 5/1965 Lambert ..2l1/49 R Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Leclair Assistant Examiner-Steven E. Lipman Azt0rneyGeorge A. Schwenzer [57] ABSTRACT My invention teaches the use of self spiraling bands preferably of transparent materials adapted to be flexible and used as binding means around a stack of materials. The bands are secured to a base plate and arranged to have movable identification tags attached to the bands which have spaced perforations throughout their length and provide means for securing the bands each to the other. These tags are positioned in specific places along the bands to identify the stop or start of different items at different heights within a stack. The aforesaid base plate has removable casters readily attachable to it when it is desired to carry stacks of materials in greater quantities that cannot be carried about by hand. In addition my stacking device is used as a display rack for items, books or pamphlets and a sample is supported in open or closed condition for easy examination of an item, book or pamphlet contained in the stack, and other contents of the stack may be removed from the stack while an item, book or pamphlet is on display.

7 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAH23 I973 3.712.463

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SHEET 5 OF 6 //v VENTO R A TTOBNEY I INDEXED PACKAGING AND STACKING DEVICES It is an object of my invention to provide self spiraling transparent bands of flexible materials for securing and binding materials in stacks together with identification tags that are secured in place on the bands when the stack is bound by the bands.

Another object of my invention is to provide self spiraling elongated bands of flexible materials of sufficient length to accommodate itself to variations in height by reason of additions or subtractions from a particular stack. Each stack is to have movable identification tags secured at different places identify certain different materials secured in the stack.

A further object is to provide self spiraling bands of flexible transparent or opaque bands that are secured to a base plate for supporting stacked materials, the base arranged to receive and retain removable casters for moving a stack of material from place to place.

An object of my invention is to provide self spiraling, perforated elongated bands of flexible materials for securing a stack of materials in bundles by securing the bands together with removable fasteners and attaching a handle to the stack for carrying the bundles from place to place.

A further object of my invention is to provide self spiraling bands of flexible materials for bundling stacks of materials together with means whereby the bands are arranged to provide a slanted support for a unit in the stack of materials to be supported on the band to allow examination of the contents of the unit on display.

These and other objects of my invention will become apparent from the specifications and drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention and forming a part of my application for patent.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing a completed bundle with a handle attached.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective showing a stack of magazines being built up and adapted to receive additional magazines along with identification flat tabs attached to the self spiraling band with removable fasteners.

FIG. 3 is a front view in elevation of an identification disc attached to a fractional part of a flexible band by means of a removable screw and knurled nut.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the identification disc as illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front'elevation illustrating as an alternate structure a slidable identification tag attached to a fraction of a flexible band.

FIG. 6 is a section through the slidable tag taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a view taken in perspective illustrating the use of flexible bands for displaying a piece of material from a stack of material.

FIG. 8 is a view in perspective illustrating a method of attaching bands together with removable fasteners to provide a sloping rest.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view in perspective of a base plate without the self spiraling bands.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view in perspective illustrating the self spiraling bands secured to the base plate shown in FIG. 9.

along the band to FIG. 11 is a face view in elevation of an enlarged placard secured to a slidable identification tag attached to a fraction of a self spiraling band.

FIG. 12 is a top plan view in perspective of one of the base plates that is adapted to be mounted on casters and secured thereto by screws and nuts.

FIG. 13 is a plan view in perspective illustrating a complete assembly of self spiraling bands, base plate and casters.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a fractional part of a self spiraling band with holes for identification tag attachment and gradient cutting lines.

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of a preferred type base plate having U-shaped slots for removably securing casters to the base plate.

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of a fractional corner of a base plate with arrows indicating the direction of movement of the casters for removably securing the casters to the base plate.

FIG. 17 is a top plan view in perspective of a fractional corner section of a base plate with a caster removably secured to the base plate.

FIG. 18 is a top plan view in perspective of a top of a caster detached from a base plate and illustrating button head studs secured therein.

Referring to FIGS 9, 10 and 11 there is illustrated a base plate 1 preferably rectangular in shape. Within the plate there are elongated parallel slots 2 that in turn are parallel to side edges 3 of the base plate to slidably receive a self spiraling elongated side band 4 which provides a tying band around sides of a stack of pamphlets and/or cards. Attached to the band there is an oversized placard 5 advertising the contents of the stack. The side band 4 is placed for securing it on the base plate by threading one of the ends of the band through one of the parallel side slots from an underside of the base plate. The band is then spanned flatwise on top of the base plate between the parallel side slots. The end of the band is then threaded down through the other parallel side slot 2 and brought up and around the other side edge 3 of the base plate. After the band is threaded through the side slots the lengths of the band is equalized on each side of the base plate. The foregoing is the preferred method of attaching the bands to the base plate. However, the bands need not be of equal lengths on each side of the base plate. The band need only be extended partially up around the other side edge of the base plate to expose holes 10 thereby providing a means for attaching the other end of the band to the shorter end.

Within the base plate there are other elongated parallel end slots 7 that are parallel to ends 8 of the base plate. An end band 9 is threaded through in the same manner as the side band and spanned flatwise between the parallel end slots 7 and rests on top of the base plate and also the band 4. After threading the band 9 through the slots 7 the lengths of the band is equalized on each end of the base plate. The end band like the sideband need not be of equal lengths on the ends of the base plate. The bands are self spiraling and will remain in rolled condition (see FIG. 2) until they are pulled around a stack and the ends of the bands are secured to each other (see FIG. 1). The bands have a multiple of holes spaced throughout their entire length. To secure the bands 4 and 9 from displacement in relation to the base plate certain holes in each of the bands are superimposed and brought into alignment to receive a removable fastener 11 that is removably retained in the holes in the bands and also in a hole 12 in the base plate (see FIG. The removable fastener secures the bands and the base plate from movement in relation to each other, and it also serves as a means for securing the base plate to a storage shelf. The purpose for securing the stacks to the shelf is to prevent the unauthorized removal of the stack.

The bands are elongated and provide a flexible means to tie variable heights and sizes of bundles of pamphlets in stacks. In the case where excessive lengths of bands are required, lengths of bands can be permanently secured together by grommets. The bands are adapted to be overlapped over each other around a stack of materials and secured together by removable fasteners 13 (see FIG. 1) through matching holes 10 in the bands when the bands are tensed around a stack and the bands are superimposed over each other. The end and side bands are also secured together by removable fasteners on the top of the stack where they cross each other. The height of the stack can readily be increased or decreased by removing the removable fasteners 13 thereby releasing the bands from tying condition. The multiplicity of holes in the bands insure the matching of holes to provide adequate tension around the materials in the stack to maintain the stack in a stable tight bundle. The bands are reuseable notwithstanding the repeated tying and untying of the bundle.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 in order to identify periodicals in the stack by dates and/or nomenclature there are provided identification flat tabs 14 that are slidably, retained on the bands. The tabs have channels 15 for retaining them in slidable relation on the bands. They are attached to the bands by bending the edges of the band towards each other and then sliding the edges into the channels 15. Holes 16 through a back side 17 of the tabs are adapted to be indexed with selected spaced holes 10 in the bands. Removable fasteners 13 through the holes 10 and 16 secure the tabs on the bands at any desired location in the stack of materials. The bands are transparent to facilitate the reading of a legend describing the material in the stack. The legend is recorded on a removable legend card 18 (see FIG. 6) that is slidably secured in the slidable tabs. The legend card may also be secured on the front of the band. As an alternate I provide a disctype tab 19 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) adapted to be secured to the bands. The disc tabs are secured to the bands by removable bolts 20 having knurled nuts 21 and the tab is adapted to be positioned at any point on the band. In stacks having a variety of materials any number of the flat or disc tabs may be placed on the bands.

Referring to FIG. 1 there is illustrated a handle 22 that is removably secured to a completed stack 23. The handle is secured to the stack by removable handle fasteners 24 that are secured in the handle and also the holes in the bands 9 and 4 that secure the materials in stacked condition. When bundles are weighty, a buckle 50 (see FIG. 1) is used as an alternate for the removable fasteners to secure the bands together.

In use the band is made in an enlarged roll to fix it in self spiraling condition. The band has spaced measured cutting lines 25 (see FIG. 14) with the spaced holes 10 to facilitate taking a measured length of band from the roll for variable size stacks and/or bundles. When the bands are used for weighty bundles, the holes 10 will be reinforced by grommets.

For stacks and bundles too large and heavy there is provided a base pallet 26 instead of base plate 1, to which there are removably secured casters 27. FIG. 13 illustrates the casters secured to the pallet base by means of removable nuts and bolts 28. The base pallets have the elongated slots 2 and 6 and the bands are secured to it. The bands are secured to the base pallet as previously explained for the base plate 1.

In the preferred form there is provided a novel means for detachably securing the casters to the base pallet. The casters have a head plate 29 (see FIG. 18). Secured in the head plate are button headed studs 30 providing a space 36 between the head plate and the underside of the button. A shank 35 of the button headed stud is smaller in diameter than the button head. The space between the head plate and the underside of the button head is such that when the caster is attached to the base pallet there is sufficient frictional engagement to prevent the caster from easy sliding and moving in relation to the base pallet. Positioned at the four comers of the base pallet there are quadruple U- shaped slots 31 matching in number the button headed studs on each of the casters. Legs 32 of the U-shaped slot are perpendicular to bottoms 33 of the slots. These perpendicular legs terminate in holes 34 that are large enough to receive the button heads 30. The slots forming the legs 32 are only wide enough to slidably retain the shanks 35 of the button headed studs. The width of the bottoms 33 of the U-slots is identical to the width of the perpendicular legs of the U-slots. Other legs 37 are displaced at acute angles to the bottoms in the direction towards the perpendicular legs 33. The width of these other legs of the U-slots is sufficiently wide to slidably retain the shanks 35 of the button headed studs. These other legs have slight depressions at their terminal ends that are adapted to receive and retain the button heads when the casters are secured on the base pallet.

To attach the casters to the base pallet (see FIG. 16) the button heads are inserted into the enlarged holes 34. The caster is moved upward to the bottom side of the pallet until the head plate is in contact with the bottom side of the base pallet and the bottom side of the button head is in position to slide on the top side of the base pallet. When in this position the caster is moved in the direction indicated by arrows 39 until the button head comes to rest at the end of the other leg 37 and in place in the depression. The casters are held in frictional engagement with the base pallet. They cannot move in relation to the pallet when the pallet and the casters are moved together. The casters can only be moved in relation to the base pallet when the base pallet is held stationary and the casters moved separately.

Referring to FIG. 7 there is illustrated apartial stack of items 40. Positioned within the stack there is an inverted U-shaped wire stand 41 with horizontally projected feet 42 secured between pamphlets in the partial stack 40. The bands 4 and 9 are disconnected and rest on the pamphlets. Another band 43 is connected to one end of the band 4 by means of a removable fastener 44.

A lower end of this other band is in coiled self spiraling condition and provides a stop 46 for an item on display from the stack. An upper end 47 of the other band 43 is coiled around the bar 48 of the inverted U-stand. Vertical disposed legs 49 of the inverted U-stand extend above the top of the stack and when the upper end of the other band is coiled around the bar and fastened, the band presents a sloping rest for a pamphlet that is readily examined as to its contents. After the bottom of the band 43 is secured to band 9 a removable fastener is inserted in the upper coil of band 43 to prevent further uncoiling of the upper coil.

To utilize my invention the bands are secured to the base plate in coiled condition. Pamphlets or other materials adapted to be stacked, that is, flat materials, magazines or cards are arranged in stacks on the base plate to any desired height. The end and side bands are then wrapped around the sides and ends of the stack and the bands are secured together by the removable fasteners.

In stacks having one class of material a disc or slidable identification flat tab with a legend of the contained material is attached by means of the removable fasteners. When a stack contains various materials in different quantities of each, several discs or slidable identification tabs are attached along the band and they are located at the point in the change of the contained material. This automatically indexes all materials in any given stack and facilitates their location in any particular stack.

Having thus described my invention and desiring to secure Letters Patent, I claim:

1. A packaging and stacking device for materials comprising;

a base plate for supporting materials to be stacked and packaged,

a first flexible self spiraling band secured to said base plate and extending from both sides of said base plate, and at rest in coiled condition,

a second flexible self spiraling band secured to said base plate and disposed at right angles to said first band and extending from both ends of said base plate and at rest in a coiled condition,

said first and second bands arranged to be overlapped generally at right angles to one another about said stack of materials to secure said materials in a package, and;

attachment. means for securing said overlapped bands to hold said materials in a secured package.

2. A packaging and stacking device as set forth in claim 1 having;

at least one removable element for identifying materials in said package and said element being removably secured to at least one of said bands.

3. A packaging and stacking device for materials as set forth in claim 1 having; a plurality of holes in said bands,

said self spiraling bands being transparent,

flat identification tabs slidably retained on said bands and having holes adapted to be aligned with said holes in said bands,

legend plates slidably retained in said flat identificationtabs interposed between said flat tabs and said transparent bands and having holes for alignment with said holes in said tabs and said transparent bands, and; removable fasteners securing said tabs and legend plates at a point along said transparent bands.

4. A mobile packaging, stacking and display device for materials adapted to be stacked comprising;

a base plate for supporting said materials on said base plate having spaced elongated side slots parallel and adjacent sides of said base plate and other spaced elongated end slots adjacent to ends of said base plate,

a continuous side band of flexible self spiraling material extending down around a side and upwardly through one of said side slots and across the top of said base plate to span a space between the side slots and extending down through the other of said side slots and up and around the other of said sides of said base plate, and equal lengths of said side band retained on each of the sides of said base plate,

another continuous end band of self spiraling material extending down around an end of said base plate and upwardly through one of the said elongated end slots and across'the top of said base plate to span a space between the said end slots and extending down through the other of said end slots and up around the other side of said base plate, and equal lengths of said end band retained on each side of said base plate,

said base plate having a hole centrally located and peripheral holes centrally located adjacent the sides of said base plate for securing said bands to said base plate,

a multiple of spaced holes throughout the length of said bands and selected holes in said bands adapted to be indexed with said hole in said base plate, a removable fastener securing said bands at right angles to .each other on said base plate through said selected holes and said hole in said base plate,

said bands adapted to be removably wrapped around said stack of materials to secure said stack in a bundle; and;

removable fasteners to secure said bands in tightly wrapped condition around said stack to provide a rigid bundle of materials.

5. A mobile packaging, stacking and display device for materials as set forthin claim 4 having;

movable identification tags slidably retained on said bands being removably secured to said hands by removable fasteners secured in said holes in said bands.

6. A mobile packaging, stacking and display device as set forth in claim 4 having;

movable discs removably secured to said bands and removable fasteners secured in selected holes in said bands to locate and secure said discs on said bands.

7. A mobile packaging, stacking and display device for materials to be stacked as set forth in claim 4 comprising:

a removable handle secured to said bands by removable fasteners secured in said bands.

i i i I. i 

1. A packaging and stacking device for materials comprising; a base plate for supporting materials to be stacked and packaged, a first flexible self spiraling band secured to said base plate and extending from both sides of said base plate, and at rest in coiled condition, a second flexible self spiraling band secured to said base plate and disposed at right angles to said first band and extending from both ends of said base plate and at rest in a coiled condition, said first and second bands arranged to be overlapped generally at right angles to one another about said stack of materials to secure said materials in a package, and; attachment means for securing said overlapped bands to hold said materials in a secured package.
 2. A packaging and stacking device as set forth in claim 1 having; at least one removable element for identifying materials in said package and said element being removably secured to at least one of said bands.
 3. A packaging and stacking device for materials as set forth in claim 1 having; a plurality of holes in said bands, said self spiraling bands being transparent, flat identification tabs slidably retained on said bands and having holes adapted to be aligned with said holes in said bands, legend plates slidably retained in said flat identification tabs interposed between said flat tabs and said transparent bands and having holes for alignment with said holes in said tabs and said transparent bands, and; removable fasteners securing said tabs and legend plates at a point along said transparent bands.
 4. A mobile packaging, stacking and display device for materials adapted to be stacked comprising; a base plate for supporting said materials on said base plate having spaced elongated side slots parallel and adjacent sides of said base plate and other spaced elongated end slots adjacent to ends of said base plate, a continuous side band of flexible self spiraling material extending down around a side and upwardly through one of said side slots and across the top of said base plate to span a space between the side slots and extending down through the other of said side slots and up and around the other of said sides of said base plate, and equal lengths of said side band retained on each of the sides of said base plate, another continuous end band of self spiraling material extending down around an end of said base plate and upwardly through one of the said elongated end slots and across the top of said base plate to span a space between the said end slots and extending down through the other of said end slots and up around the other side of said base plate, and equal lengths of said end band retained on each side of said base plate, said base plate having a hole centrally located and peripheral holes centrally located adjacent the sides of said base plate for securing said bands to said base plate, a multiple of spaced holes throughout the length of said bands and selected holes in said bands adapted to be indexed with said hole in said base plate, a removable fastener securing said bands at right angles to each other on said base plate through said selected holes and said hole in said base plate, said bands adapted to be removably wrapped around said stack of materials to secure said stack In a bundle; and; removable fasteners to secure said bands in tightly wrapped condition around said stack to provide a rigid bundle of materials.
 5. A mobile packaging, stacking and display device for materials as set forth in claim 4 having; movable identification tags slidably retained on said bands being removably secured to said bands by removable fasteners secured in said holes in said bands.
 6. A mobile packaging, stacking and display device as set forth in claim 4 having; movable discs removably secured to said bands and removable fasteners secured in selected holes in said bands to locate and secure said discs on said bands.
 7. A mobile packaging, stacking and display device for materials to be stacked as set forth in claim 4 comprising: a removable handle secured to said bands by removable fasteners secured in said bands. 